Part I

Section 809. -- Reduction in Certain Deductions of Mutual Life Insurance Companies

26 CFR 1.809-9: Computation of the differential earnings rate and the recomputed
differential earnings rate.

Rev. Rul. 2000-37

This revenue ruling contains the differential earnings rate for 1999 and the

recomputed differential earnings rate for 1998. Under § 809 of the Internal Revenue

Code, mutual life insurance companies use these rates in computing their Federal

income tax liability for taxable years beginning in 1999. This revenue ruling also

contains the figures on which the determinations of these rates are based. Notice

2000-16, 2000-16 I.R.B. 826, contained tentative determinations of these rates.

Section 809(a) provides that, in the case of any mutual life insurance company,

the amount of the deduction allowable under § 808 for policyholder dividends is

reduced (but not below zero) by the "differential earnings amount." Any excess of the

differential earnings amount over the amount of the deduction allowable under § 808 is

taken into account as a reduction in the closing balance of reserves under subsections

(a) and (b) of § 807. The "differential earnings amount" for any taxable year is the

amount equal to the product of (a) the life insurance company's average equity base for

the taxable year multiplied by (b) the "differential earnings rate" for that taxable year.

The "differential earnings rate" for the taxable year is the excess of (a) the "imputed

earnings rate" for the taxable year over (b) the "average mutual earnings rate" for the

second calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the taxable year begins.

The "imputed earnings rate" for any taxable year is the amount that bears the same
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ratio to 16.5 percent as the "current stock earnings rate" for the taxable year bears to

the "base period stock earnings rate."

Section 809(f) provides that, in the case of any mutual life insurance company, if

the "recomputed differential earnings amount" for any taxable year exceeds the

differential earnings amount for that taxable year, the excess is included in life

insurance gross income for the succeeding taxable year. If the differential earnings

amount for any taxable year exceeds the recomputed differential earnings amount for

that taxable year, the excess is allowed as a life insurance deduction for the

succeeding taxable year. The "recomputed differential earnings amount" for any

taxable year is an amount calculated in the same manner as the differential earnings

amount for that taxable year, except that the average mutual earnings rate for the

calendar year in which the taxable year begins is substituted for the average mutual

earnings rate for the second calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the

taxable year begins.

The stock earnings rates and mutual earnings rates taken into account under §

809 generally are determined by dividing statement gain from operations by the

average equity base. For this purpose, the term "statement gain from operations"

means "the net gain or loss from operations required to be set forth in the annual

statement, determined without regard to Federal income taxes, and ... properly adjusted

for realized capital gains and losses...." See § 809(g)(1). The term "equity base" is

defined as an amount determined in the manner prescribed by regulations equal to

surplus and capital increased by the amount of nonadmitted financial assets, the
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excess of the amount of statutory reserves over the amount of tax reserves, the sum of

certain other reserves, and 50 percent of any policyholder dividends (or other similar

liability) payable in the following taxable year. See § 809(b)(2), (3), (4), (5) and (6).

Section 1.809-10 of the Income Tax Regulations provides that the equity base includes

both the asset valuation reserve and the interest maintenance reserve for taxable years

ending after December 31, 1991.

Section 1.809-9(a) of the regulations provides that neither the differential

earnings rate under § 809(c) nor the recomputed differential earnings rate that is used

in computing the recomputed differential earnings amount under § 809(f)(3) may be

less than zero.

Rev. Rul. 99-3, 1999-3 I.R.B. 4, provides that a life insurance subsidiary of a

mutual holding company is not a mutual life insurance company for which the deduction

for policyholder dividends is reduced pursuant to §§ 808(c)(2) and 809.

For purposes of § 809, the differential earnings rate for 1999 and the rate used

to calculate the recomputed differential earnings amount for 1998 (the recomputed

differential earnings rate for 1998), and the figures on which these two rates are based

are set forth in Table 1.

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Rev. Rul. 2000-37 Table 1


Determination of Rates To Be Used For Taxable Years

Beginning in 1999


Differential earnings rate for 1999 ...................0.249

Recomputed differential earnings rate for 1998 ....... 0.182

Imputed earnings rate for 1998 ...................... 16.193

Imputed earnings rate for 1999 ...................... 15.815

Base period stock earnings rate ..................... 18.221

Current stock earnings rate for 1999 ................ 17.465

Stock earnings rate for 1996 ........................ 17.238

Stock earnings rate for 1997 ........................ 19.321

Stock earnings rate for 1998 ........................ 15.836

Average mutual earnings rate for 1997 ............... 15.566

Average mutual earnings rate for 1998 ............... 16.011


DRAFTING INFORMATION

The principal author of this revenue ruling is Katherine A. Hossofsky of the

Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions and Products). For further

information regarding this revenue ruling contact Ms. Hossofsky on (202) 622-3477 (not

a toll-free number).